Updated 1.40pm

A NUMBER OF ferry crossings have been cancelled by Irish Ferries this Friday as Storm Barbara gets ready to roll in.

The storm will bring heavy wind and rain, and as a precaution Irish Ferries has cancelled – to date – three crossings from Dublin and three crossings from Holyhead tomorrow. The full details, which may change as the day goes on, are available on the company’s website.

A number of crossings tomorrow from Dublin and Holyhead are, at this point, still due to take place.

Stenaline, which operates crossings from Rosslare, Dublin and Belfast, advises on its website:

Winter Storm Barbara is due to bring wet and windy conditions to the UK. Unfortunately this may cause some disruption to our scheduled sailings this Friday and Saturday. Please call our Ferrycheck line on 08705 755 755 for the latest updates on our sailings.

Earlier this week, Met Éireann’s deputy head of forecasting Evelyn Cusack told TheJournal.ie that Storm Barbara would mostly affect the north-west:

“It looks like the storm centre may track close to the north-west of Ireland, so the north-west is most at risk.”

A status orange national warning has been issued for coastal regions and high ground of Donegal, Galway and Mayo. Met Éireann says that it will be very windy tomorrow in these areas, with southerly winds of 65 to 75km and severe gusts between 100 and 120km.

A status yellow wind warning has also been issued for the rest of the country, with winds of 50 to 65km per hour and gusts between 90 to 110km, which will be strongest on exposed coasts.

Both warnings are valid tomorrow from 6am to 6pm.

We can expect sunny spells and scattered showers today, with maximum temperatures of six to 10 degrees. Tonight, heavy rain and very strong winds will arrive in Atlantic coastal countries before dawn, says Met Éireann.

Road safety

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has asked people to exercise caution while using roads tomorrow.

The RSA has the following advice for road users:

• Beware of objects being blown out onto the road. Expect the unexpected. Watch out for falling/fallen debris on the road and vehicles veering across the road
• Control of a vehicle may be affected by strong cross winds. High sided vehicles and motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to strong winds
• Allow extra space between you and vulnerable road users such as cyclists and motorcyclists
• Drive with dipped headlights at all times
• Check tyres and consider replacing them if the thread depth is below 3mm
• It takes longer to stop in wet conditions so slow down and leave extra space between you and the vehicle in front
• Take special care when driving behind goods vehicles as they generate a considerable amount of spray which reduces your visibility
• Be aware of the danger of aquaplaning especially on roads with speed limits of 100 km/h and 120 km/h

With reporting by Órla Ryan

Read: Choppy winter weather on the way as Storm Barbara to hit this Friday>